Author: staff

A wildfire on the Greek island of Kefalonia forced evacuations on Sunday, with flames burning dangerously close to homes as aircraft carried out water drops over the Ionian island. In western Attica, near Athens, fire spread toward communities and an industrial district outside Megara, while violent gusts kept firefighting aircraft from collecting water at sea. Nearly 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft were deployed, but gale-force winds drove flames through dry forest, crippling the response. Authorities ordered evacuations in Kandili, Agia Skepi and Toutouli as smoke rose over the mountains, with crews especially concerned about the coastal town of Porto Germeno.

Wer regiert die Welt – und was treibt sie an? In unserem regelmäßigen Machthaber-Spezial geht es um die mächtigsten und umstrittensten Politikerinnen und Politiker unserer Zeit. Wir zeigen, wie sie denken, entscheiden – und was das für uns bedeutet. Eine Politikerin oder Politiker, ein Blick hinter die Kulissen der Macht. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis: Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. ⁠Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren.⁠ Mehr von Host und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon…

Published on 03/08/2026 – 8:00 GMT+2 As fires tear through France, Spain, Greece and Italy this summer, the EU has triggered its largest-ever wildfire response. Paris activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and the bloc has sent seven planes and four helicopters to France, plus six planes, 134 personnel and 41 vehicles to Spain. The response runs through a layered system. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre in Brussels matches requests with offers from member states around the clock. Behind it sits rescEU, the EU’s own reserve of firefighting aircraft, deployed when national resources run short. For 2026, the EU pre-positioned…

US President Donald Trump said that new negotiations with Iran will begin on Monday after he decided to hold off on striking the Islamic republic to pursue a deal to end the war entering its sixth month. Trump told reporters on Sunday that the talks would cover the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies that has become a sticking point in the conflict, and the denuclearisation of Iran. For its part, Iran said it was nearing a deal with Oman over a new route through the strait, where a tanker reported an explosion nearby on Sunday,…

With a range of new ships set to join fleets around the world, and themed itineraries attracting new and returning passengers, the cruise industry remains buoyant. Here we look at some of the biggest trends emerging in the cruise travel sector in 2026 and 2027. New cruise ships According to the 2026 Cruise Industry News Annual Report, the global fleet of cruise ships will increase from 459 at the start of this year to around 540 ships by 2037. This also means that passenger capacity will reach nearly 50 million in the next decade. In 2026, 13 new cruise ships…

By reinvesting a greater share of maritime ETS revenues in infrastructure—ports, shore-side electricity, alternative fuels, bunkering and other facilities—Europe can help the maritime industry maintain its global leadership while accelerating the energy transition. That is why it is important to be clear about cruise’s role in Europe. Cruise is a key part of the maritime industry: we build ships, move people between ports and across seas, and help drive innovation and investment through one of the most advanced supply chains in Europe. Cruise should therefore be understood first and foremost as part of Europe’s maritime industrial ecosystem, combining maritime transport,…

The crisis in the Spanish territory of Ceuta is adding fuel to Europe’s bitter debate over migration. Following the arrival of more than 50,000 migrants in Ceuta in northern Africa last week, EU leaders ganged up on Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez over his migration policies. Although 48,300 migrants had returned to Morocco by late Friday, the backlash is ongoing. On Tuesday the EU is set to hold an urgent meeting of interior ministers to figure out next steps. Hosts Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss the incident. Next, European Ombudsman Teresa Anjinho warns that growing global crises can’t become an excuse for secrecy in the EU’s institutions. She says that…

“There has been an impact and the Burnham bounce does also have an impact on the polls of course. The two things are happening together,” Towler said. “But what’s interesting is the impact these attacks are having on our supporters is very little because they expect the establishment to behave like this.” The great establishment stitch-up Public First’s analysis suggests there is truth to the idea that Farage’s core support has solidified as a result of his recent difficulties: During the same period that his overall approval rating has fallen nationally, from early May to the end of July, it…

Published on 03/08/2026 – 4:28 GMT+2 Morocco’s interior ministry has issued its first toll for those who died trying to reach Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta last week, saying 11 people had died, which is significantly lower than the number issued by Spain, which was at least 72 people. Tens of thousands of potential migrants crossed into the territory between Wednesday and Friday, sparking diplomatic tension within the European Union as some member states criticised Spain’s lack of action and loose migration policies. Rachid El Khalfi, a spokesman for Morocco’s interior ministry, said that of the 11 who died,…

At 80, President Lula da Silva is once again running for the Brazilian presidency, presenting himself as a defender of the country’s “sovereignty” at a time when external pressure exerted by the Trump administration, through the imposition of customs tariffs, is casting a shadow over the campaign. Lula is one of the most influential left-wing leaders still in office in Latin America, where the right and far right have been steadily gaining ground in successive electoral cycles. Silva is running for a fourth term in an election race that conveys a sense of déjà vu in a polarised country where…